Pubdate: Wed, 06 Apr 2016
Source: Day, The (New London,CT)
Copyright: 2016 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Author: Susan Haigh, Associated Press

PROPONENTS URGE CONNECTICUT TO CASH IN ON LEGAL MARIJUANA

Hartford (AP) - Proponents of legalizing marijuana in Connecticut 
urged state lawmakers on Tuesday to act quickly and capitalize on the 
"novelty factor" of possibly becoming the first New England state to 
allow recreational use of the drug.

Tracy Helin, of Middletown, who is registered to use the state's 
medical marijuana program to relieve cancer symptoms, warned 
legislators who attended an informational hearing on legalization 
that time is of the essence. Recreational marijuana legalization is 
being considered in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont.

"If Connecticut is on the trailing end of this trend, we will miss 
the novelty factor ... it won't be the shiny new toy in a few years," 
he said, likening legalized marijuana to casinos, which have opened 
in a growing number of states over the years. "If we miss the boat on 
this, there will be many dollars lost when we're really in a budget crisis."

Helin would like the revenues to help reduce costs for medical 
marijuana participants. Others have suggested using the money to help 
address the state's opioid abuse problem or to balance the state's 
deficit-plagued budget.

Two bills legalizing the recreational use of marijuana already failed 
during this year's General Assembly session, due to inaction. But the 
bills' proponents held Tuesday's informational hearing at the 
Legislative Office Building to keep the issue alive. Rep. Juan 
Candelaria, D-New Haven, plans to resurrect the legalization bill next year.

"We will continue to have the dialogue and the discussions," he said, 
after hearing from dozens of people who mostly supported 
legalization. "We will continue to try to move something forward in 
this legislature. It may not happen in this legislature, it may not 
happen in the others, but who knows."

Legalization faces some strong opposition in Connecticut, despite 
support voiced Tuesday from people who said they use marijuana to 
relieve debilitating medical symptoms, consider smoking marijuana to 
be a harmless activity or have been caught up in the criminal justice 
system because of marijuana-related crimes. Democratic Gov. Dannel P. 
Malloy, who backed the state's medical marijuana program and 
decriminalizing possession of small amounts of pot, reiterated Monday 
that he opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana.

"I think when you legalize marijuana, you're encouraging marijuana 
and that's not the place I want to go," Malloy said.

Recreational marijuana is already legal in four states and the 
District of Columbia. Proponents estimate Connecticut could reap 
about $50 million or more in revenues if it legalizes and taxes the drug.

Seamus Kelly, a Waterbury resident, warned legislators they could be 
"squandering this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" if they allow other 
states in the region to legalize pot first.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom